“Collective effervescence” is defined as “the abstract emotional state we reach when, as an individual, we become part of a collective, a whole, sharing a common purpose”. This concept is the central philosophy of Positive Deviants, our esteemed hosts tonight. They are no ordinary promoters. A nearly new collective not content with simply just having a good time, they also want to expand minds and generate connections through the vessel of multiple art forms. The Latest Music Bar is a fine choice to stage such a caper and as resident artist Dan Lish scrawls something rather wonderful on a wall in the bar, the ever-growing crowd spills down into the dark room beneath.
Austen Showers are the perfect pick to get the proceedings popping. This Brighton four-piece are branded with a whole heap of influences from 60s psych to 70s glam stomp and 90s West Coast grunge. Lead singer Charlie is a magnetic performer, bedecked in a shimmering jumpsuit of finest sable, channelling the dual spirits of Bolan and Bowie, but with a grounding hint of Ray Davis thrown in for measure.
They tease, coax and cajole the willing crowd and at one point have everyone, quite literally, on their knees. Whilst not ploughing the most original of musical furrows, Austen Showers stand apart because they can perform. The licks lick, the shreds shred and the resulting noise is a glorious fusion of knowing fun. They get the collective more than effervescing and the crescendo is a full-on, floor-writhing rock’n’roll prolapse.
After a quick intermission (basically an excursion to a nearby pub to dodge the frankly epic bar queue) SOURCE is back underground, primed and ready for the headliners. Holy Popes are a Bristol-based band sporting another larger-than-life lead singer, albeit less sartorially inclined. It’s tops off, tats out for Dominic Knight and his band of noise terrorist brethren and they grin, gurn and grind their way through a breathless set.
Knight was once seen in much missed Brighton band The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, but his latest incarnation is far less subtle and far more political. Holy Popes dropped their debut LP earlier this year and it was a well received polemic that took the time, amongst a blizzard of guitars, to study modern meanings of masculinity. On the surface Knight comes across as your typical, overtly aggressive male punk performer but a thoughtful tenderness undoubtedly lies beneath. He is helped of course by a significant amount of horsepower under the hood, driven by a relentless rhythm section that sports the clankiest, crankiest bass sound this side of Steve Harris’s house. Holy Popes are, superficially at least, nothing particularly new, but boy do they get the job done and by the bitter end, the now-packed house are beaten into submission, cheering for even more.
The rest of the evening is given over to DJs including Richard Fearless and Neil Sick and the beats bounce off the walls and floor late into the night. Positive Deviants’ stated aim is achieved; a well curated line-up that set the atmosphere-o-meter to Party and there are an awful lot of shiny happy looking people in the room. Brighton has a new creative force in town and more events are planned soon. They will no doubt take us all to some fascinating places and early booking would be highly advised.
Positive Deviants presents Holy Popes and Austen Shower
Latest Music Bar, Friday 17th March 2023
